Hospice’s history goes on record at archive centre

Memories: Volunteers gather documents to tell story of Highland facility

The history of the Highland Hospice has now gone on display at the Highland Archive Centre to preserve its history for years to come.

The hospice, which cares for patients suffering from life-shortening illnesses, has been in operation since 1987 after co-founders Flora MacKay and Cecilia Bottomley made their idea a reality, providing a place for patients to experience the best possible life and care during illness and into bereavement.

Yesterday the detailed documents, which have been gathered over the past three years, were placed into the care of the Highland Archive Centre after being compiled by an eight-strong team of volunteers.

Colin Waller, who led the project, is a retired archivist and offered his services on a volunteer basis to the hospice.

Mr Waller said: “There was a huge big story that needed to be told and a whole host of records that needed taken into proper custody.

“Most of what we found is what you would expect to find in these sort of collections.

“The archive has been used to produce a recognition wall and document the hospice’s history and also the fundraisers, the volunteers, the staff and everybody that has made it what it is today.

“It’s been great to work with such a committed team and the whole thing is down to their efforts. The team had the history since the early days and a lot of them are volunteers and have taken the hospice to heart, and they took the archive to heart.”

The documented material will now be stored at the archive facility, where over six miles of shelving for documents exists, with the oldest artefact dating back to 1299.

The thorough findings are available for members of the public to see. However, some restrictions are in place for documents that may be of a confidential nature.

Present at the handover, co-founder Ms Bottomley said: “It’s a very emotional day. Some of the silly ideas people had to raise money are really amazing and you forget them over the years.

“I am amazed at it all. It has made me very aware of history and how important itisforustogobackand look and remember.

“I never thought the hospice would grow what it is nowadays.

“I think people thought the hospice was a place for people to die and it’s not – it is a happy place and that is what we wanted.”

Jennifer Johnstone, archivist at the Highland Archive Centre, added: “For organisations to realise the worth of what they do and their importance to the area – it is a milestone for them to hand over documents to us and for them to know that they are safe with us.” to

Photograph by Sandy McCook MILESTONE: Archivist Jennifer Johnstone, left, with Highland Hospice’s Cecilia Bottomley and Andrew Leaver at the handover event.